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Tracheitis most often accompanies the inflammation of the larynx located higher in the respiratory tract. Often the bronchial tubes below the trachea are also involved in the inflammation. Consequently, with tracheitis, the ability to breathe is severely limited. So much so that sometimes intubation and even tracheotomy may be necessary. What are the causes and symptoms of tracheitis? How is the treatment going?
Tracheitismeans inflammation of the middle part of the airways, which starts with the larynx (the trachea is its extension) and ends with a bronchial bifurcation. Due to this location, tracheitis rarely occurs on its own - it most often accompanies the inflammation of the larynx. The bronchi are often affected by the disease.
Tracheitis - causes
Viruses (usually influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, RSV, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses) are most often responsible for the acute inflammation of the trachea.
Less common causes of the disease are atypical bacteria. Bacterial tracheitis usually follows an infection of the upper respiratory tract, and young children are most at risk of developing the disease.
There are acute and chronic forms of tracheitis
In both cases, the pathogens are transmitted by airborne droplets - when the patient speaks, coughs or sneezes while expelling saliva droplets along with the virus.
In turn, chronic tracheitis can be the result of long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, which irritates the lining of the trachea. In addition, it can accompany other chronic diseases of the respiratory system, such as chronic laryngitis or bronchitis.
Tracheitis - symptoms
Acute tracheitis
- cough
- dry - tiring and persistent - described as barking or rumbling - may be damp at a later stage of the disease
- wheezing (audible wheezing when breathing)
- sore throat, usually with a scratchy feeling
Tracheitis is common in young children and smokers
- difficulty breathing or even shortness of breath (when severe, cyanosis may appear)
- pains behindbreastbone and in the neck area, which are aggravated by coughing and deep breathing
- low-grade fever or fever
- weakness, fatigue
If tracheitis is caused by an upper respiratory infection, symptoms such as cough, runny nose or a mild fever may appear first. It is only after 2-5 days that symptoms of tracheitis appear.
Symptoms of chronic tracheal inflammation are less severe, but a dry cough predominates.
Tracheitis - diagnosis
The doctor may take a swab from the throat (to determine which pathogens are responsible for the development of the disease), order an X-ray of the trachea and chest (to exclude, among others, pneumonia) and measure the saturation of blood with oxygen.
Tracheitis - treatment
If the disease is caused by bacteria, it is necessary to use antibiotics. However, in most cases, viruses are responsible for the inflammation of the trachea, so symptomatic treatment is applied - drugs that alleviate a sore throat and reduce fever (paracetamol, ibuprofen), as well as drugs that thin the mucus and facilitate its expectoration.
It is also important to moisturize the respiratory tract - inhalations, e.g. with essential oils, can be helpful. Inhaling water vapor enriched with eucalyptus or tea tree oil will thin the secretion and thus facilitate breathing.
You should also take care of the air humidity in the room where the patient is. It is advisable to use air humidifiers or put damp towels on the radiators and drink plenty of fluids.
In addition, it is better not to expose the trachea to respiratory irritants such as, for example, cigarette smoke.
If the dyspnea is severe, the doctor may decide to administer glucocorticosteroids or even adrenaline to the patient. In extreme cases, intubation is performed, i.e. inserting a breathing tube through the mouth or nose into the larynx. As a last resort, a tracheotomy is performed - the trachea is cut and a tube is inserted into it, which provides air supply to the lungs.